A trade has been rumored about a possible deal that would send Ichiro Suzuki to the Chicago Cubs. No one has said what the Mariners would receive, but Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome have been linked with the rumor.
The Cubs have a few prospects that would be worth the time for the Mariners, including first baseman Micah Hoffpauir. In Triple-A he batted .362, amassing 25 home runs and 100 RBI's in only 71 games!
Micah is a future star, and the Mariners will be needing a first baseman after they finally pulled the plug on Richie Sexson and Jose Vidro. Combined with the free-agency of Miguel Cairo and Willy Bloomquist, we will be left with Bryan Lahair, a minor league first baseman with numbers far off from getting excited about.
Other players that could be involved in the deal include starting pitcher Randy Wells, who led his team in ERA, wins, and strikeouts. Those two would be a great one-two punch in the Mariners' system.
Other candidates to include in the trade include Reed Johnson and Josh Kroeger.
Remember, this trade has been rumored, but nothing is certainly finalized.
However, you can expect the name Micah Hoffpauir to be overheard much in the upcoming days at Wrigley and Safeco.
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about 1 month ago
I wrote an article saying Derrek Lee and Fukudome should go to Seattle over a month ago.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/68119-the-deal-jim-hendry-should-make
One problem with you article: Eric Patterson is in Oakland.
Nice thought, though. I'm on board.
about 1 month ago
oh ya the rich harden deal. don't you hate it when the sources don't say how old it is.
about 1 month ago
I haven't heard this rumor recently, but I would take him in right or center field. I just can't see the Cubs paying him however and I really don't think this has a chance of happening. Nice article tho.
from about 1 month ago
ya it's a long shot.
about 1 month ago
Too bad Fukudome didn't work out; he was supposed to be a combination of Ichiro and Matsui. Instead he's a combination of Laurel and Hardy.
from about 1 month ago
I concur.
from about 1 month ago
Who said Fukudome isnt going to work out? He started off hot in his "rookie" season in a new country. He still could come back next year and be the player we want him to be. Maybe bringing in Ichiro would be good for Fukudome.
about 1 month ago
K.C. is correct. Fukudome fizzed out at the end of the season, most likely because the MLB season is quite a bit longer than the Japanese league.
So, hopefully his year in America has better conditioned him for a full season next year.
Also, if we trade Lee, we wouldn't get rid of his replacement Hoffpauir. Not that you said we would, but you didn't say we wouldn't. And Lee wouldn't waive his no-trade clause.
from about 1 month ago
I think we want to keep Lee for sure. He is important to our team in more then just his offense and defense.
about 1 month ago
Yea, Lee is important for his leadership. We have plenty of offensive production elsewhere.
from about 1 month ago
Patrick: To say we have plenty of offensive production elsewhere is obsurd! There are four positions that are supposed to be the rock of your offense: the corners in the outfield and infield. We have a cornerstone in Ramirez. So long as Soriano is batting leadoff, he cannot be an RBI machine. And right now we don't have a right fielder.
Also, if we have so much offensive production, where'd it all go after September 30th last year?
Are going to be complacent and happy about declining numbers from what is supposed to be a power position?
Leadership is nice, but I'd rather see a guy producing. Keeping a guy around because he's vocal in the clubhouse even though he isn't earning his contract is crazy. If a guy's playing first base and getting over $9 million per season, I better see .300 and 30+ homers. Lee hasn't done either in how long?
from about 1 month ago
I'm sorry that I think a team that finished with the best overall record in the National League is adequate in terms of roster.
Yes, the team did fizzle off, and like Fukudome, the rest of the team needs a little more conditioning. It was a little, ok a lot, of frustration when they lost in the playoffs, but that doesn't take away from their excellent regular season.
And while it is nice to think about how great different players might make the Cubs in the post season, you need to get there.
And Lee, hitting .291 with 20 homers and 90 RBIs, was a steady contributor. He hit .300 last year, and hit 46 homers in '05, with only two other 30 homers season in 03 and 04. He still is in his prime, with decent power.
They were second in the NL in batting average, fifth in homers (and that was long a complaint, all they can score on is homers), first in runs and RBIs (by quite a few), first in doubles, first in walks, first in on-base % and first in slugging. That, my friend, is offensive production.
I can go on in the Major Leagues. Without a DH they are comparable. Fifth in average and slugging, second in on-base, second in walks, second in RBIs, second in runs, and oops eighth in homers.
Thats still pretty good, especially when Lee is a key contributor to it.
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